When to Visit the Emergency Department

February 6, 2015|
Health and Wellbeing /

Most of us could comfortably treat a minor scrape or manage a low-grade fever at home, but if you, or someone close to you, is seriously hurt or becomes very unwell it’s time to visit the emergency department.

An emergency department is a hospital’s front line, managing, and possibly diagnosing and treating, patients who present with acute medical conditions. Operating seven days a week, these departments are equipped to handle most emergency and trauma situations.

Emergency departments, whether public or private, are open to anyone. If you visit a private hospital there will be an upfront non-refundable fee.

Patients should visit an emergency department if they experience any of the following conditions:

Unexplained fever, especially if accompanied by drowsiness or skin rashes

Unexplained headaches

Sport injuries

Stroke-like symptoms including facial or arm weakness and difficulty with speech

At the end of the day, if you’re concerned you should come to an emergency department and be assessed.

— Dr Ron Sultana, Epworth HealthCare

What to expect

An emergency department is an unscheduled service. Much like a supermarket or bank, the length of time it will take for you to be seen will be dependent on who else is there. You’ll be treated as soon as possible, but someone who arrives after you with a more serious condition is likely to be treated first.

The first person you’ll see when you arrive will assess both your condition and the priority of your care. Even if your doctor refers you to an emergency department you’ll still need to be assessed.

Staff will need to build a very detailed understanding of your condition in a very short amount of time so you’ll be asked a lot of questions. It can be useful to have someone with you to help with this and, if your medication is close by, to bring it along.

There’s a good chance you’ll receive treatment and be sent home, possibly with a referral.

If you’re at a private hospital and you need to be admitted you’ll need to have private health insurance or be prepared to pay for an inpatient stay. Uninsured patients are generally given the option to transfer to a public hospital, depending on the availability of beds.

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